Choice of low miles, small engine or higher miles big engine.

[MB Novice]

I am in a quandry.

Have a choice of an SL280 1998, V6 112 engine with 8500 miles or an SL500 1998 113 engine with 47000 miles.

Both have been well looked after and the asking prices are similar.

Fuel consumption seems to be close from what I read here 19.8 compared to 23.2. Although with rising fuel prices a V8 may frighten off less informed buyers in the future when I am selling it.

There is a big difference in how they both feel. The 280 feels light nimble and zippy and the 500 heavier and powerful but with a relaxed drive. i actually feel the 280 leaves me a bit hyped up because of the noisier and higher reving engine/

While the low miles of the 280 is appealing I am wondering if it really should be an issue when the 500 has only 47,000. Maybe 47,000 in a V8 equates to 20,000 in a V6.(????) Maybe the 500 will last far longer than the V6.

I would be very grateful for the views of other members.

Patrick

 

[allias]

I think both them mileges are just "warm up stage" for Merc. So in this case its really your own preference as which one to choose. I really doubt 500 will have ~20mpg - yes maybe while driving most on motorway. Afterall its big and heavy engine.

As far as durability... I wouldnt expect any of them go soon so I would rather look on state of everything else. Interior, suspension and then maintnance cost. In some occasions (depend on where it was parked) long parking might be worst to rubbers then driving it for long miles. Seals could detorarate as vehicle wasnt driven.

Its really hard to say but I would take all YOUR OWN cons and pros before buy. There is quite big diffrence how you maintan both cars and you need to think which one will be cost effective. Its not like choosing between 300 and 320 or similar.

 

[chrisd107]

There are other things to consider also, for instance the general wear and tear. The higher mileage car would obviously have more wear and tear, i.e. brakes, tyres shocks etc.

 

[219]

The 500 is just run in , the 280 barely so . My 500 with 180 odd thousand miles drives like new ; I have also had numerous six cylinder cars with upwards of 200K , including the 300TE-24 which had done 430,000 miles , with FMBSH throughout and still drove like a new car - that is nothing unusual .

As for fuel consumption , 20+ mpg is entirely realistic : I get an average of 18-20 mpg from my 1986 500SEL (M117 engine , which is much older and less fuel efficient ) on a mixture of town and open road driving , with a best of 25 mpg on long motorway runs at the legal limit on cruise control ( I could probably better that if I tried by driving without cruise control as it has a 'lead foot' when it comes to maintaining speed up inclines or resuming speed after being slowed by other traffic ) .

This is the only V8 I've had after a great many six cylinder cars ( a number of 280's with the M110 engine and two 300's with M103 and M104 engines ) the M110 is just as thirsty as the V8 and , while willing , does have nowhere near the ultimate power or refinement , but this was an engine developed in the 1960's and introduced circa 1972 ; the M103/104 is a newer series of engine , much more refined and the two estate cars I had used to average more like 24/25 mpg on the same mix of driving as I now use the 500 for , with long runs nudging towards 30 mpg .

If I am honest I'd have to say that the 24 valve estate car did not feel noticeably faster than the 12 valve one , despite allegedly having 231 bhp against 188 ! The 280E/CE/TE/SE cars I have had have all been quite leisurely in performance compared to the later ones , despite the M110 only having 3bhp less than the M103 - so 'on paper' figures do not always translate into the real world .

On the other hand , the 500 does have a lot more go than all the others , even lugging a much bigger and heavier body around , besides doing it all in comfort , but this is no doubt down to the greater torque available pretty much right across the rev range .

Certainly within the W126 S Class range ( I have the 280 besides the 500 ) I have driven numerous other six and eight cylinder examples - the observation you made about the six cylinder cars being more nimble in handling , although less relaxed and refined than the v8 models holds true .

On that one you have to decide for yourself .

 

[moonloops]

V8 any day - even if just to annoy prius owners/eco mentalists as you waft past

 

[gkerr4]

if these are similar price then the 280 any day!

at 8500 miles you are buying what is practcally a new car! - the 500, while still a low-ish mileage, will have a significant more wear and tear just simply due to the additional hours it has ran and work it has done. The 500 is going to have higher running costs too - not just in fuel, but other components like servicing (more plugs, more oil capacity, bigger air filter(s) exhaust etc. I'd only consider the 500 if it was significantly cheaper than the 280.

Also (and i'll get flamed for this) big engined cars are finished in this country - the way things are with tax and fuel etc - the 3l V6 is bad enough but who (outside of forums like this) really wants to own a 5litre V8 in the UK any more? if things get worse you could easily end up with a car which is "un-sellable" in a couple of years.

 

[gkerr4]

^^ Ooh actually - scrap that - you are looking at pre-2001 cars so a change to the tax band to make the 500 a few grand a year in VED wouldn't apply.

evens the game a little, but still the 280 for me

 

[Sp!ke]

The 500 all day long - sorry.


I'm getting 24mpg in a mixed commute across london in my SL500 and the 280 will probably give 26mpg on the same run.

Unless you are going to mothball it, what is the point in a car with 8500 miles. A couple of years down the line you'll have the same mileage as the 500 but by that time it'll be worth less than the 500 because it wont have such silly low miles and the 280's just arent as desireable or marketable.

If you are going to get an SL don't go for the poverty version?

 

[grober]

The SL is a very heavy car despite being a 2 seater. The 280 engine must be "marginal" in terms of its power to weight ratio for a sports car. This may be compensated by a change in gearbox ratios or the differential- and this can negate any perceived economy advantage of a smaller capacity engine. In the end if you want a sophisticated cruiser the 280 will be fine. If you want a "performance car" then it has to be the V8. The other thing to watch is that sometimes Mercedes tended to "skimp" slightly on equipment levels with their entry models although I am uncertain if this would apply to a high end motor such as the SL. So it might pay to compare the equipment specs very carefully.

 

[h17n dj]

i agree with Sp!ke!!! may aswel go for the 500.... like you said they r roughly the same price and u get a lot more for your money with the 500 and it will b such a smooth drive and the powwer will b there like a tonne of bricks when u need it.!!! plus the satisfaction that youve gone for the top spec one

 

[d w124]

There are other things to consider also, for instance the general wear and tear. The higher mileage car would obviously have more wear and tear, i.e. brakes, tyres shocks etc.

Yes but a 12year old car with 8.5k might give you more problems.Is not good for the car to sit,it has to be driven.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Go for the V8 IMHO.

the 8k engine will not have been used as intended.... i'd rather have an engine that is nicely run in like the 40k one will be.